Carmelo Anthony played through an inflamed elbow — officially chronic bursitis — during the end of last season and through the playoffs. It showed as ‘Melo shot just 37.5 percent in the Knicks one playoff series, well off the 46.4 percent he shot for the Nuggets the previous playoff run.

That elbow kept him from working out or playing in too many games this summer.

Then he showed up to play for the Melo League in its showdown with the Goodman League in Baltimore. And he looked good, dropping in either 27 or 36 points, depending on whose scorekeeping you wish to listen to (the official scorekeeping at these pro-am games borders on nonexistent). Either way, he looked healthy and told that to the New York Post.

“I’m back like I never missed a game,” the Knicks star said last night….

“This is my first time coming out and actually playing [this summer],” Anthony said. “I wanted to bring LeBron out here to actually enjoy the atmosphere . . . there’s nothing like it.”

If he’s back healthy, that is a big thing for the Knicks offense as they head into next season (whenever that is). He with Amar’e Stoudemire provides a wicked amount of firepower and create serious matchup issues.

The bigger question for the Knicks success, however, is how Mike Woodson gets ‘Melo and teammates to play defense.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —Russell Westbrook had his seventh consecutive triple-double Friday night in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Houston Rockets, the longest streak since Michael Jordan had seven straight in 1989.

Westbrook got his 10th rebound with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter. He already had 16 points and 10 assists. Westbrook finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The Thunder won the first six games during his streak, however they fell to James Harden and the Rockets 102-99. Harden was one rebound short of his own triple-double.

It was Westbrook’s 12th triple-double of the season and the 49th of his career. He is the NBA’s active leader in the category and ranks overall.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has denied the Toronto Raptors’ protest of their 102-99 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 20.

The league announced the decision Friday.

Toronto argued that the game officials incorrectly called for an instant replay review of whether the Raptors’ Terrence Ross released a 3-point shot prior to the expiration of actual time remaining.

The Replay Center official reviewed video of the play using a digital timer and determined the actual time remaining in the game expired before Ross released his shot, and the shot therefore did not count.

The league found that calling for an instant replay review in this case was consistent with the playing rules because the game officials determined that there was a clock malfunction.

You probably answered “the Clippers.” Most fans do. So do most NBA referees — And everyone else. Which is why after a recent loss to Golden State, veteran Marreese Speight (a Warrior last season) pointed to the Clippers complaining about the officiating as part of the problem.

He went on to say that the scouting report is you can get in the Clippers’ heads by knocking them around a little. Which seems pretty obvious when you watch teams play them. Shockingly, Clippers coach Doc Rivers disagrees with that. Via NBCLosAngeles.com.

“The officiating thing, I don’t think, is our issue. I will say that,” said Rivers about the technical fouls. “If that were the problem, then, Golden State would be struggling. They’ve been No. 2 the last two years in techs, too. I think we need to point fingers in another direction than that.”

Doc may not like it, but Speights is right.

The Warriors do complain too much, but they also have a ring so more is forgiven. The problem for the Clippers is that reputation for complaining starts with Rivers — he complains as much or more than any coach in the league. Then it filters down through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Is it fair that more is forgiven with winning? Moot question. Welcome to America. The Clippers complain a lot and have yet to get past the second round with this core. And at times there standing there complaining to the referees does get in the way of them getting back into defense, and they seem to go in a funk.